African Banker, a leading magazine that publishes information on banking and finance in Africa has nominated Ecobank as the African Bank of the year. Martin Oduor-Otieno the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB)’s Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has also been nominated for African Banker of the year by the same entity, for its annual African Banker Awards.

The awards are to be held next month during the World Bank /IMF annual meetings in Istanbul, Turkey. 

The ‘African Banker Awards’ recognize and reward individuals, companies and institutions which have excelled in Africa’s banking and financial sector over the last year.

The awards are designed to recognize the reforms, rapid modernization, consolidation, integration and expansion of Africa’s banking and financial system.

Winners are selected by a committee which is composed of the editorial team of African Business and African Banker magazine and experts from leading organizations with an in-depth knowledge of the African business landscape.

Other nominees for African Bank of the Year include, Arab African International Bank (Egypt); Banco Angolano de Investimentos (Angola); Banque Marocaine du Commerce Extérieur (Morocco); First Bank of Nigeria and United Bank for Africa (Nigeria).

Under the African Banker of the Year, nominees include Tayo Aderinokun, (MD/CEO, GTB Nigeria), Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, (CEO/MD, Access Bank, Nigeria), Bashir Awale (MD, Stanbic Bank, Tanzania) and James Mwangi (CEO, Equity Bank, Kenya).

"The volume of submissions demonstrates how seriously banks are going about their business, not only in terms of expansion but also CSR activities, capacity building, recruitment and bringing world class practices to their industry.

Banks are playing a critical role in raising expectations of what businesses can and should be achieving in Africa,” said Anver Versi, Editor of African Banker magazine while commenting on the nominations.

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